a

H. Walley, the Boston merchant; Dr. W. what connection has it with religious duty? A. Alcott, the dietetic; Miss Giant, who

I wish to ask if it is not lowering was afterward associated with Mary Lyon the standard of religion, to admit such artiat South Hadley, and Miss Payson, the cles into a religious magazine ?” daughter of Dr. Edward Payson of Portland, now Mrs. Dr. Prentiss of New York. And so on. The reader will understand

From what has been already said the the nature of the whole from the quality of reader will have seen that the Religious this part, and recognize in the writer of this Magirzine was conceived in a liberal spirit communication the grandfather or other anand dedicated to the service of a sensible cestor of some members of the Fault-Finde ideal. In the “ Summary” of the first ing Family of to-day. By this formidable number the editors had given this fair warn- criticism, however, the author of “The ing to the Scribes and Pharisees of the time: Young Christian ” was by no means dis

“ We do not intend that the Magazine turbed in his editorial seat. " It was never shall be exclusively religious. It is intended our intention,” he says, “ to make an exfor a Christian family, and anything may clusively religious magazine : proper.y find a place in it, which may be “A magazine is not a series of tracts nor interesting or useful at the Christian fire- a monthly preacher. It belongs to a differside.

We consider however that ent department of literature altogether, giving pleasure is producing useful effects; wider in its range, more popular and busiand consequently we should not certainly ness-like in its style, and taking hold far reject an article, which would really interest' more freely and familiarly of the ordinary a religious family, because it did not di- pursuits of men. Our correspondents have rectly teach a moral or religious lesson.” sometimes, not considering this, sent us

Under this flag, for awhile, the magazine what are apparently extracts from sermons, sailed unmolested. But at last an attack but they are out of place. We want artifrom some self-constituted patrol of the clts written expressly for the pages of a high seas was begun. And this was the magazine, in the style and manner approorder and movement of battle:

priate. And then, if they are calculated to

do good, they cannot be out of place. In “To the Editors of the Religious Magazine: this number, in an article on War, which

“ GENTLEMEN - I subscribed for your we hope our readers will send around to all Magazine more than a year since, with the their neighbors, we even touch a little upon expectation that I should find it what it politics ! ” purported to be, a religious work, one cal- In sending my fraternal greeting to the culated to be read in the family on the new magazine at Springfield, I can wish for Sabbath, with pleasure and profit. I have it no higher excellence than that it embody, however been pained to find that a great with “ modern improvements” the guiding many articles have been inserted in the dif- principles of this old magazine of Boston, ferent numbers, that have no more connec- which, I think, may be laid down as follows : tion with religion, than they have with 1. To expound Christianity as a life. commerce or politics. Having given away 2. To avoid controversy upon the nonthe numbers of the first year, I cannot now

essentials of the Christian system. refer to particular pieces in them. I how- 3. To welcome the aid of all who have it ever remember "A College Scrape,' and to offer upon these terms. • Stories of a Revolutionary Officer.' I last 4. To apply religious truths in secular Sabbath took up the December number, directions, and to treat secular subjects in a and was disappointed at finding so little religious light. that my conscience would let me consider 5. To be governed in the preparation of as adapted to the day and its sacred duties. Sabbath reading by the fact that the SabThe article on the Andover Institution is bath was made for man and not man for interesting, and very well in its place, but the Sabbath.

Edward Abbott.

EDITOR'S TABLE.

THE LAW-CURE FOR DRUNKENNESS. ation is laid for the reformation of those who

It is sometimes said that those who resort to receive it. legislation for the suppression of intemperance

But love is better than truth. Personal kindmust needs abandon the ground of moral intlu- ness to the intemperate is the main reliance. ence. That is not necessarily true. There is no Many persons are miserable because they drink; reason why both methods—the legal and the mor- many drink because they are miserable. Hard al — should not be employed simultaneously. toil all day; a cheerless home or no home at all Legislation of some sort with respect to the traf- at night; no relies or recreation; no opportunity fic in intoxicating liquors is necessary; all Chris- of social enjoyment; no cheering prospects; no tian communities undertake some legal supervis- elevating friendships—such is the portion of many ion of the business. And there is no reason why of those whom, as Christ said, we have always the people who help to make and enforce these with us. And if such as these choose to forget law's should abandon all effort3 to reclaim drunk- their loneliness and misery now and then in the ards by the use of moral instrumentalities. exhilaration of strong drink it is not so much a

Yet it is true that one may put such stress upon matter of wonder. The expedient is a foolish the legal methods as practically to neglect the one, but it is easy to see why many people resort moral agencies; and it is equally true that when

" What

66

man.

done by law in ten years. The most stringent of Sweet, Strong looks with admiration. laws often fail to reduce very materially the sale a well spoken fellow he is !” Strong says to himof liquors. But it is the simple fact that in many self. No wonder the Hivites are always swarmneighborhoods where these men have been at ing if their ministers are all like him!” work the saloons by scores have been closed for Presently they enter a street car together and the want of patronage. And when we read, as are seated, when a sudden and alarming change we have read in recent newspaper statements, passes upon the countenance of the affable man. that from all parts of the state of Michigan the Strong looks up in wonder and finds Sweet officers of the law report a marked diminution in directing the stiffest and most peremptory of the police business; that one of the circuit judges nods toward a passenger opposite. It is evident has declared that the continuance of the “red that this vis-a-vis, whoever he is, has suddenly ribbon” movement would result in so reducing extracted from Sweet all the kindliness that was the criminal trials that two more counties might in him. Talk about three-minute freezers!” easily be added to his district; and that in view says Strong to himself; “here is a man that has of this very fact of the lessening of crime in the frozen another man stiff in less than three state a resolution of thanks to Dr. Reynolds seconds!” Yet the stranger does not look like a passed both houses of the last Michigan legisla- bad man. His face is a kindly one; his eyes are ture by a nearly unanimous vote, we have a clear full of good humor, and he has the air of a clergyshowing of what can be done by moral agencies After a little Strong ventures behind his toward the suppression of intemperance and the newspaper, to inquire of his friend: “Who is that evils which do either accompany or flow there- gentleinan opposite?" " That's Jones," answers from.

Sweet in a hoarse whisper. “ Jones of St. Bun

yan's church ? " persists Strong. “Yes,” replies ON A CERTAIN HAUTEUR IN CHRISTIANS. Sweet, and the reason of the mysterious iciness

Mr. LOWELL’s delightful essay “On a Certain gradually dawns upon the ingenuous mind of Condescension in Foreigners,” will be suggested Strong. For Jones is a Hivite minister who has by our title, and the paternity of the phrase is ventured to differ upon a question of church consessed without shame. The trait in foreigners order with the majority of the Hivites. He is of which the author of the “Biglow Papers” admitted by all to be an earnest and godly man; writes so good humoredly is not, however, very he agrees with his brethren in nineteen points out near of kin to that peculiarity of some Christians of twenty, and the twentieth point seems to outto which we refer. Condescension, whether gra- siders rather a minute one; yet because of his cious or ungracious-whether proceeding from disagreement with them this small matter the a calm sense of superiority or from a lofty sense great majority of them are unable to treat him with of duty-is a virtue which these good Christians, decent courtesy. Whenever he steps into any on certain occasions, religiously suppress. They company of them the conversation is hushed, and have learned how to preserve, in their intercourse a sudden chill is felt in the room. Men who have with some of their neighbors, a most perpendic- always known him cast sidelong glances at him, ular stiffness and a most inflexible sternness. and speak to him, is they address him at all, with

The peculiarity of conduct of which we speak ceremonious coolness. is not always observable in these Christians. It This is the reason why Sweet treats Jones, is only in their intercourse with certain persons whom he once knew very well, with such marked that you notice it. Toward the great majority of hauteur. And as Strong ponders the unlovely their fellow men they are gracious enough, but spectacle, he thinks of all the people whom Sweet there is one class among them whom they always has met this morning, and contrasts his treatment feel bound to treat with great severity.

of them with his treatment of his brother Jones. The phenomenon to which we refer will be There was Keene, the broker, who has just been made visible by an example. Two ministers, engineering a corner in Northwestern-a most whom we will call Sweet and Strong, are rascally operation. Sweet was very friendly to crossing one of the Jersey ferries together of a him, and Keene is a Hivite, too. There was Monday morning. They do not belong to the Briggs, the fancy goods dealer who has failed same denomination. Strong is a Hittite, let us five times within tive years, and kept his carriage say, and Sweet is a Hivite, but they are neigh- and a man servant and two maid servants all the bors and friends. Strong is a sincere and while,-Sweet fairly beamed upon him. And the straightforward gentleman, and he greets the peo- bewildered Strong is forced to confess to himself ple whom he knows pleasantly enough, but Sweet that a man whose heart goes out with such is a delightfully affable man; he seems to know warmth toward dishonest and disreputable felhalf the people he meets, and he has a most lows like Keene and Briggs, yet who has nothing engaging way of noticing everybody, and making but sternness and severity for an upright and everybody feel that he is the very soul of benignity faithful brother in the ministry who ventures to and good fellowship. Upon this happy faculty differ with him on a small matter of church order, is a man whose disposition it is not, after all, wise counsel you have given, and your kindly worth while to covet.

affection for all have made you dear to us; and We know that this story is true, for we had it the genial humor of your conversation has been from the lips of Strong himself. Moreover, we to our hearts the oil of gladness. The beauty of have seen the same phenomenon ourselves in a life pure and true, a life consecrated to high other Christians besides Sweet, and in other and holy aims, has been to us a continual inspidenominations besides the Hivites. And the ques- ration to better things." Happy is the man tion may well be asked of these Christians whether whose neighbors can truly say all this about him! in thus making a difference of religious opinion And happy is the people whose songs are made a fault to be punished by the withdrawal of by singers of pure and blameless lives! friendship, and in treating their brethren of the The life of the man does, indeed, give shape same communion who honestly disagree with and quality to all his work. His poetry reflects them about certain matters of doctrine or polity his character. He has a quick perception of with far greater severity than they treat notori- beauty in nature, and some of his descriptions, ous malefactors, they are not falling into the notably those of “Snow Bound," are exquisite in error of those who tithed garden herbs and their perfection. But it is the broad and deep neglected weightier matters.

hunanity of his verse that has clothed it with Now that the nineteenth century of Christian- power. The quiet joys of home, the grace of ity is almost gone, is it not reasonable to expect childhood, the passion for liberty, the love of some abatement of the odium theologicum, and country, the righteous resentment against cruelty some recognition of the fact that honest differ- and injusticeence of religious opinion need not give rise to

“the hate of hate, the scorn of scorn, suspicion and unfriendliness ?

The love of love"

all these have found voices in his lyrics that will THE QUAKER POET.

never die. The measure is sometimes rugged, One of the notable events of the month has and the phrase homely, but the thought goes been the celebration of the seventieth birthday of home to the hearts of men. The common people the poet Whittier. The tributes in the December hear him gladly. They know what he means, number of the Literary World were indications of for he interprets to them their own best thoughts. the high regard in which Mr. Whittier is held by It is not only when he touches the common his contemporaries; and the banquet in Boston things of this life that his words have power; his given in his honor to the contributors of the At- poems of religion are among the noblest in the lantic Monthly brought together a distinguished language. Devout minds in the generations to company.

come will more and more find use for such hymns American literature is fortunate in counting of trust and hope as “The Clear Vision,” “ The among its chief poets in this generation such men Answer,” “The Eternal Goodness," "Our Masas Longfellow and Whittier and Bryant and Low- ter,” “Thy Psalm,” and “Thy Will be Done.” ell-men of unstained and exemplary characterIn such peaceful channels the current of his song who by thei virtues as well as by their genius often flows, through these his riper years, reflecthave won the honor and love of their country- ing in its quiet depths the beauty of the skies. men. It is no light obligation that we owe to them for having established so close a relation in our thought between the noble art of poetry and

PROVINCIALISM. the nobler aims of morality. The charm of genius The tributes paid by the newspapers and by has never been thrown by any of them around good men in all parts of the country to the charvice or lawlessness; they have drawn us by their acter and influence of Mr. Samuel Bowles since songs into no ways that do not lead upward. he has been prostrated by his late alarming illWhen we remember the kind of influence that ness show, among other things, that the good and poets have sometimes exerted upon the morality influential work is not all done in the big cities. of their period, we must feel that in this we have There are very few newspapers in any city that something to be thankful for.

have been more widely quoted than the SpringOf all our poets, not one has gained so strong field Republican, or that have had more to do in a hold as Whittier upon the affections of his forming public opinion in this country. The countrymen. This is partly due to the rare sim- metropolitan contempt for provincial journalism plicity and nobility of his character. He is a is sensibly abated when the name of Mr. Bowles's man of whom all who know him speak in the newspaper is mentioned. Of course a daily paheartiest praise. His neighbors of Amesbury per in a small city must be somewhat limited in and Salisbury joined on his birthday in a loving its circulation; its local constituency is not large, message in which they say of him: “The warm and it has not the facilities of communication interest you have taken in every good work, the with the rest of the world possessed by the metropolitan journals; but its influence may be that they have been the rounds of the other large though its circulation is comparatively magazines, are not nearly so sure of a symsmall.

pathetic reading hereabouts as those that indicate SUNDAY AFTERNOON has not failed to lay to a more recent origin and a fresher treatment. heart the lesson taught by the success of its

The Lutheran church in this country is split neighbor. We hope that our magazine will hold the same rank among the monthlies that the R- into several belligerent factions, the warfare

between which has been about as sharp as any publican has held among the dailies; and if it

that sectarianism has produced in America. But shall, what can hinder us from getting not only the good name that the Republican has got, but during the last month a Diet was held in Philathe larger audience that the Republican, in the delphia of representatives from nearly all the

sections of the church; and though the discussions nature of things, cannot hope to get ? The circu

covered most of the points of controversy among lation of a daily journal cannot be very large beyond its own immediate neighborhood, but the

Lutherans, the papers read were so judicious and case is entirely different with a mouthly; the conciliatory in their tone, and the debates were public can be supplied with a monthly as prompt- conducted with such fairness and courtesy that a ly and as cheaply if it is published in Springfield great advance was made in the direction of

As the Lutheran as if it is published in New York. And the reconciliation and reunion.

Observer says: embarrassment of riches under which our pigeon-holes already groan, being burdened, proves “The many points upon which all parties in that the accident of place is no obstacle in the disagree, were so strikingly brought out in the

the Church agree, and the sew upon which they way of obtaining good literary work from the papers read and the discussions which followed, best people in all sections of the country. Our that the murgin of difference became exceedingly writers come from the East and from the West tify, before God and man, the division of our

narrow for Christian men to stand upon and jusand from the South; and there is no reason why Church into separate bodies." our readers should not be found in all these quar

Most of the points that separate not only the ters. If the tone of the magazine were provincial different wivgs of the sects, but the sects themits constituency would undoubtedly be provincial; selves, are of this character; and a frank and but the questions with which it deals are not local respectful conference about these differences questions, and the interests which it seeks to pro- would often serve to establish fraternal relations mote are not local interests. We trust that it between parties that are in bitter strise. The will be found tolerably free from sectionalism as

great majority of those who are engaged in well as from sectarianism; and that it will prove religious controversy do not know the opinions of itself both cathonic and cosmopolitan in its ideas

those against whom they are contending. The and in its work. A good daily newspaper must

leader; in these sectarian conflicts alucays misneed3 be more or less provincial, for its function is to give the news of its neighborhood; but good and file are always fighting on false issues. A

represent the opinions of their opponents; the rank literature is not provincial, neither is good relig- full explanation of the exact. difference between ion, and the magazine that is devoted to them

the contending parties,-of the beliefs and purmay have an unlimited field.

poses and aims of each, -would put a speedy end We should be glad, of course, of a large local

to many divisions in the church. And we trust audience; but the whole boundless continent be

that the Lutheran Diet will be only the first of longs to us as much as to anybody, and we mean

many similar attempts on the part of divided beto take possession of our share of it.

lievers to come to a fair understanding.

At the dedication of Dr. Allon's new CongreWhile the artist is painting in his background gational church in London the other day several the premature critic is sometimes heard to com

interesting things happened.' Mr. Gladstone atplain of the somberness of the picture. Those tended the morning service, (at which Dr. Dale who have adopted this method in judging of Mr.

was the preacher) and at its close was shown Habberton's story, will probably get a little light

over the building. This is only significant as a on its meaning in the current installment. The slight indication of the cordial feeling of the problem of Walter Brown's experience could nev

English Liberal leader toward the Nonconformer have been worked out without the use of the ists. The connection of the Liberals and the Nonmaterials that were made ready in the first chap- conformists is likely to become still more intimate ter. The motive of the writer in putting Brown in the politics of the near future. Mr. Thomas into such an environment will now be under- Hughes was also present and spoke at a collation stood.

served in the Sunday-school room; and the Hon. ARTICLES that give evidence, in the dinginess and Rev. W. H. Fremantle, an English clergyof the paper on which they are written and in man of eminence, in a speech on the same occatheir generally disheveled and discouraged look, sion, expressed the hope "that the day would